License-plate for automobiles.



[raven-afar D D BARTOLOMEO LICENSE PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, I'9IZ- 1 1,250,543. Patented Dec. 18,1917.

ailrn e31 specification.

non-mien n. BAn'roLo Eo, or rnovjnnwm LlGE SE-PL TE B AU- QMOBILEssrs ificafi aof fatei t i Patented Dec.-,1B,, 191T.

' Application filed February 2,1917. Serial nm ieaeis, 1

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DOM-INIGK D, BARTO- noarno, a citizen of the United States,-residing at'Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented "certain new and useful Improvements in License-Plates for Automobiles, of which the-following is a specification. i

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this Similar characters referv to similar parts in the several figures therein.

The principal object of the invention is to employ the license plate of an automobile as a protection against the theft-of theautomobile. V I

' Other objects will appear in connection with the following description: ,7

Figure 1 of the drawings is a viBW in perspective of a device embodying my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the same with the parts in an intermediate position in the operation of reversing the identificationplate upon the supporting-plate.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the identification-plate locked in reversed position with relation to the supporting-plate.

Referring to the drawing wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, 1 is a supporting-plate, provided with slots, 2, whereby it can be readily attached to an automobile or similar vehicle in the same manner that ordinary license plates are now attached.

This supporting-plate, 1, is preferably also provided with an elongated aperture, 3, adapted to transmit light therethrough from a lamp or lantern placed in rear of said plate, (not shown.)

An identification-plate, 4, is reversibly mounted upon the supporting-plate, 1, by

means of a pair of links, 5, connecting the upper end-portions of the supporting-plate, 1, with the respective middle end-portions of the identification-plate, 4, the opposite ends of the links, 5, being pivotally connected to the respective plates.

This arrangement permits the identification-plate, &, to lie either substantially fiat upon the supporting-plate, 1, as shown in Figs. 1 or 3, or to be swung away from the supporting-plate, 1, to a position as shown in Fig. 2, in which the identification-plate can be rotated upon the links, 5, to bring it into reversed relation to the supportingplate, 1.

The supporting-plate, =1, and identific'ation-plate, a, are adapted to beilockedtogether in; either normal relation'or reversed relation by key-controlled mechanism, as a padlock, '6, the hasp of ,which' extends through registering apertures, 7, in the supplate. V t J The identification-plate bears a display of identification characters, 9, which ,arep're-fporting-plate, and '8"' i-n' the identificationerably the license numberof the automobile as required by law, and' these characters, 9, are displayedin normal order-"on the obverse side'only ofthe identification-plate, as in Fig.1;- 1 i v s. i

These identification- -characters, 9, are,

preferably outlined by openings formed through the identification-plate, 1, as shown,

" whereby they are readable by light transmitted through the aperture, 3, in the supporting-plate and the apertures in said characters, from a lamp or lantern, not shown, mounted in rear of the supporting-plate, 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, when the identification-plate is locked in normal relation to the supporting-plate, 1, the display of characters, 9, is substantially the same as the display on an ordinary license plate. 7

When it is found necessary to leave the automobile unguarded for a time, the padlock, 6, is opened and the identificationplate, 1, is reversed with reference to the supporting-plate, 1, to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position it is locked by the padlock, 6. i

In this reversed position on the identification-plate the characters, 9, are either not displayed at all on the reverse side of the plate ifnot outlined by openings; or, if outlined by openings as preferred, said characters are inverted and reversed, so that attention will be readily called to either the absence of the characters or the inversion and reversal of the characters, should the automobile be driven with the identifioationplate in this reversed position.

A person contemplating the theft of an duct would at once be revealed by either the absence of the normal license number or the inverted and reversed position of the characters comprlsing said number.

The reverse side of the identificationplate may bear a minor display, 10, of the same characters which constitute the majordisplay, 9, which will enable the license number of the automobile to be readily determined, although not legally displayed, when the identification-plate is in reversed relation to the supporting-plate, 1.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. Ina device of the class described and in combination, a supporting-plate provided with means whereby it can be attached to avehicle; an identification-plate reversibly mounted on said supporting-plate, said identification-plate bearing a major-display of identification characters, displayed in norl mal order on its obverse side only, and also bearing a minor display of the same characters displayed informally on its opposite side; and key-controlled means for locking the identification-plate in reversed position upon the supporting-plate.

2. In a device of the class described and in combination, a supporting-plate provided with means whereby it can be attached to a vehicle; an identification-plate bearing a display of identification characters displayed in normal order on its obverse side only; a pair of links connecting the upper end-portion of the supporting-plate with the respective middle end-portions 0f the identification-plate whereby the identification-plate is reversibly mounted on the supporting plate; and key-controlled means for locking the identification-plate in reversed relation to the supporting-plate.

8. In a device of the class described and in combination, a supporting-plate apertured to transmit light, and provided with means whereby it can be attached to a vehicle; an identification-plate reversibly mounted upon said supporting-plate, said identification-plate bearing a display of identification characters outlined by openings therethrough, said characters being displayed in normal order on the obverse side only thereof; and key-controlled means for locking the identification-plate in reversed relation to the supporting-plate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of January, 1917.

DOMINIOK D. BARTOLOMEO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. c." 

